Method and system of displaying content associated with broadcast program

ABSTRACT

A media system comprising a broadcast system, a telecommunication system, a content processing system, and a user terminal. While a media stream is broadcast, a group of content items associated with the media stream are generated. The content items are presented in the user terminal in a first mode, wherein a presentation element corresponding to a content item is changed to another presentation element according to the timing information of the content item, or in a second mode wherein a presentation element is changed to another presentation element in response to a user action. Transition from the second mode is allowed only by authorization according to a pre-defined procedure. The interactive operations are thus controlled by the user and thus not overridden by content timed or pushed to the user terminal for display.

FIELD

The invention relates to presenting content associated with broadcastprogram in a user terminal of a telecommunication system.

BACKGROUND

Media broadcasters, such as television and radio, have taken steps toprovide audience with digital supplementary services, such a programinformation, news, weather information, competitions and other relatedcontent, in addition to a traditional media stream. These digitalsupplementary services are usually delivered over the Internet usingaudiences' personal computers or other devices capable of connecting tothe Internet.

Radio and television stations often deliver content of the contentproviders through their service and collect revenues out of contentsales. Already, broadcasters are offering ringing tones and logos ontheir web sites, which are delivered to a user from the contentprovider's system. The user is required to take up the task ofnavigating to the broadcaster web site to access the information oncontent available, and how to acquire or purchase it. The broadcastershave to promote the web address in the broadcast to attract users tovisit the web site.

There are, however, problems related to acquiring, delivering andpresenting broadcast related content by the listeners of the progam.Often, people do not have a PC with Internet access when they arereceiving the broadcast. Additionally, navigating a way through acomplicated Internet web structure to the correct service address islaborious and time consuming. Acquiring, for example, of a ringing tonerequires the user to send a text message to a defined service numberwith a service code and content identification string. The service codesand identification strings are difficult to remember. The complexity inaccessing the service results in a high barrier to connect a user to aservice and low ratings of the service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention to provide an improved method andrelated apparatus for presenting content associated with a broadcastprogram in the user terminal. The objects of the invention are achievedby a method and apparatus which are characterized by what is stated inthe independent claims 1, 10, 19, and 27. The preferred embodiments ofthe invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the idea of arranging two reception modes, onefor interactive user operations and one for the default operationexecuted according to a defined order timed according to the broadcastprogram. Furthermore, the transition from the mode for interactive useroperations is disabled unless appropriately authorized.

An advantage of the invented solution is that the interactive operationsare in control of the user and are thus not overridden by content timedor pushed to the user terminal for display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the invention will be described in greater detail bymeans of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings,in which

FIG. 1 illustrates the basic elements of the first embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of a telecommunication system;

FIG. 3 shows a more detailed structure of the embodied media system;

FIG. 4 illustrates elements of a user terminal;

FIG. 5 illustrates the embodied method for displaying informationreceived in the parallel channel;

FIG. 6 illustrates a screen of the user terminal displaying a firstcontent item;

FIGS. 7A to 7D show the division between the first mode and of thesecond mode in more detail; and

FIG. 8 illustrates the step of the embodied method.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates the basic elements of the first embodiment of theinvention. The media system (MES) 10 refers to any communication systemthat generates information for transmission over the air interface to auser terminal (UT) 150. The MES 10 comprises a broadcast transmittingsystem 100, a telecommunication system 110, a content creation tool 120,and a content server 130. The broadcast transmitting system 100 providesa program service, i.e. a media stream transmitted over the air in abroadcast channel 140, which is typically accessible to a plurality ofuser terminals 150. The broadcast transmitting system 100 can beconstrued as a cable TV network, a satellite TV network, a radiofrequency TV network, a radio cable or terrestrial network, and/or anyTV or radio network capable of transmitting a media stream to aplurality of broadcast receivers. The media stream may comprise, forexample, a radio or TV program.

The telecommunication system 110 provides the user terminal 150 with anaccess to external networks, hosts, or services offered by specificservice providers. In the following, the invention will be describedusing the terms and elements of the combined structure of the GSM(Global System for Mobile Communications) and GPRS systems (GeneralPacket Radio Service), and the telecommunication system is thus referredto as a radio system. The radio system 110 here refers generally to atelecommunications system that provides a wireless access to the system.Typically the access point of the wireless access can change when userterminals move within the service area of the system. A typical radiosystem is a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN). The invention may,however, be applied in connection of any other mobile radio system thatprovides bidirectional data communication. Examples of such systems arePCS (Personal Communication System) and DCS 1800 (Digital CellularSystem for 1800 MHz), TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio), and thirdgeneration mobile systems, such as UMTS (Universal Mobile CommunicationSystem) and IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunication System2000). It should be noted that the invention can also be applied tofixed systems, for example to the PSTN (Public Switched TelephoneNetwork), local area networks, and wide area networks, though theadvantages of the invention are more imminent in mobile communicationenvironment.

The content server 130 and the content creation tool 120 facilitategeneration and/or delivery of information associated with the programservice from the broadcast transmitting system 100 to the radio system110 and vice versa. This information is provided to the user terminal150 through the wireless access of the radio system 110, hereinafterreferred as a parallel channel 160. This parallel channel 160 may beused to deliver information associated with the content of the programservice of the broadcast transmitting system 100 for display in the userterminal 150 timed according to the broadcasted program.

FIG. 2 shows the logical structure of a radio system 110 that, as such,is known to a person skilled in the art. For clarity's sake, only thenetwork elements necessary for describing the embodiment are shown. Inthe embodied solution the radio system 110 corresponds to the combinedstructure of the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and GPRSsystems (General Packet Radio Service). The GSM network elements areresponsible for the implementation of circuit-switched connections, andthe GPRS network elements for the implementation of packet-switchedconnections, some of the network elements, however, being shared by bothsystems.

A centre 200 represents a mobile services switching centre (MSC) and aserving GPRS support node (SGSN) that enable circuit-switched and packetswitched signaling, respectively, in the radio system. The radio systemmay further comprise a gateway unit 202, which represents a gatewaymobile service switching centre (GMSC) and a gateway GPRS support node(GGSN). The GMSC attends to the circuit-switched connections between thecore network and external networks, such as a public land mobile network(PLMN) or a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and the GGSNattends to the packet-switched connections between the core network andexternal networks such as the Internet.

The centre 200 controls a radio access network (RAN) 204, whichcomprises at least one base station controller 206 that controls atleast one base station 208. The base station controller 206 may also becalled a radio network controller, and the base station may be called anode B. A user terminal 150 communicates with at least one base station208 over a radio interface.

The radio system 110 is connected to a server 130 that in FIG. 2 isshown connected to the centre 200. However, the content server 130 mayalso be connected to the gateway 202 or to some part of the RAN 204. Itis also possible that the server 130 communicates with the radio systemover the radio interface in the same manner as the user terminal 150.

The parallel channel is opened by creating a connection with the server130. This is typically created from the user terminal. A packetswitching method is suitable for data transmission where the data istransmitted in bursts. In such a case, it is not necessary to allocate adata link for the entire duration of transmission; only for the time ittakes to transmit the packets. This reduces costs and saves capacityconsiderably. Thus, a packet data connection (GPRS) is shown in thisembodiment, though basically a circuit switched connection is applicableas well.

Based on the received information from the broadcast transmitting system100 the content creation tool 120 generates a first signal associatedwith information on the program service. The information can comprise,for example, an object identification relating to the media stream, dataabout the music played at the moment, a time table of the program, DJ'smessage to the listeners or the like.

The first signal enters a content server 130, which now serves as agateway to the radio system 110. The content server 130 processes thefirst signal received from the broadcast system 100, and based on thereceived information on the program service generates a second signalthat carries a content package comprising one or more content items fordisplaying on the terminal screen. The content server 130 feeds thesecond signal to the radio system 110, and the signal is transmitted tothe user terminal 150.

It should be noted that the first signal from the content creation tool120 to the user terminal 150 may alternatively be sent to user terminalsutilizing the RDS (Radio Data System) provided that the user terminalhas a receiver for the RDS signal. The RDS signaling can be utilized onthe FM broadcast since the RDS information is encoded in the FM signal.

If the signal is sent to the user through the radio system, it should benoted, that the user does not mandatorily have to be able to receive orto be aware of the broadcast program; it is enough that the user canreceive the content items through the parallel channel. Naturally inthis case the user terminal 150 does not necessarily need to be equippedwith a receiver of the broadcast system.

Primarily a content item is shown to the user according to a pre-definedorder and timing, substantially synchronized to the program of thebroadcast system it is associated with. For example, a content itemshowing the name and the artist of a song may be displayed in the userterminal at the moment the song starts playing in the broadcast. If morethan one content items are associated with the program, their mutualstructure and timing is generally defined as well. However, a userreceiving the parallel channel or a RSD signal has furthermore anopportunity for interactive communication. In the embodied solution thisopportunity is realized by providing the user with a on-screen buttonthat is displayed in the user terminal 150. The on-screen button isincorporated in the displayed content item and corresponds to a contentobject identification so that pressing of the button initiates a requestof uplink data transmission, and generates an uplink signal including acontent object identification from the user terminal. The uplink signalis transmitted from the user terminal 150 through the radio system 110to the content server 130 that forwards the request to a destinationderived according to the content object identification.

For example, let us assume that the content item comprises an offer on adeliverable content object, which may be purchased over the air. Thecontent object may comprise, for example, a text string, a picture, avideo clip, an audio clip, a game, a logo, a screen saver, a ringingtone, or the like, a series of these or any combination thereof. Theparameters required for delivering and purchasing are included in theobject identification that has been received by the user terminal 110.If the user pushes the on-screen button in the screen, an uplink signalis generated, and forwarded to the object provider's delivery system,using the parameters comprised in the object identification. If theobject provider is an operator, the object can locate in an objectdatabase 170, which may thus be a part of the radio system 110, as shownin FIG. 1. The content object can be also provided by a maintainer ofthe content server 130, which in that case may include the objectdatabase 170. Alternatively, the object may be provided by thebroadcaster, and hence, the object database 170 may also be a part ofthe content creation tool 120.

FIG. 3 provides a diagrammatic representation of the elements of thebroadcast transmitting system 100 and of the content server 130. Itshould be noted that the elements are described as logical elements, andthe description should thus not be interpreted to restrict the physicalimplementation of the units.

Broadcast Transmitting System

The broadcast transmitting system 100 of FIG. 3 comprises broadcastcontent delivery module 102, a timing information module 104, a dynamiccontent delivery module 106, and a user interface 108.

A broadcast content delivery module 102 generates and transmits themedia stream comprising the broadcast program to a broadcast receiver412, such as FM radio receiver, TV set receiver, or the like. Thereceiver may also be comprised in the user terminal 150. The broadcastcontent delivery module 108 of a radio station typically comprises asophisticated digital content management system to compile and run abroadcast program. Examples of such content management systems are RCS'sMaster Control and Jutel's RadioMan. A broadcast may include FMtransmission, AM transmission or digital radio or televisiontransmission, or the like.

The timing information module 104 generates timing information forsynchronizing the contents in the broadcast channel and in the parallelchannel. The timing information module 102 embodied here may provide,for example, information on the starting time and the ending time of aparticular program, as well as information on timing of advertisingbreaks etc.

The dynamic content delivery module 106 may provide additional dynamiccontent information related to the broadcast program. Such dynamiccontent information may comprise, for example, results of events in thebroadcast, such as the name of a winner in a quiz show, or the like. Ifsuch content information is generated during the program, for example,in live events, sports coverage or in broadcast radio, the contentinformation is transferred to the content creation tool 120 by thedynamic content delivery module 106. In addition, the dynamic contentdelivery module 106 may receive interaction results from the contentserver 130 to be used as part of the broadcast, for example, to displaythe results of a vote on the TV as a video overlay.

The broadcast transmitting system 100 may also provide a user interface106. The user interface 106 is used for outputting the receivedinteraction results from the content server 130 to the broadcastingpersonnel.

Content Creation Tool

The content creation tool 120, which in this embodiment can also becalled a visual radio tool, allows creating a visual, acoustic ortactile presentation and manage presentation of it in the user terminaltimed according to the broadcast program. The content creation tool 120forms the content items that are provided to the user terminal foroutputting. In addition, the content creation tool allows managinginteractive elements, such as delivering and purchasing objects, votingand quizzes. The content creation tool 120 may locate in thebroadcaster's premises, for example in a radio or in a televisionstation, and be integrated to the broadcast transmitting system 100 soas to form an integrated broadcast system. The content creation tool 120may also be used to define a user navigation structure within theparallel channel. The user navigation structure refers to a sequentialorder of a group of content items associated with the same program, orof object identifications in the same content item.

The content creation tool 120 comprises a content structure tool 122,content packaging module 124, and a feedback module 126. The contentstructure tool 122 may receive information from the dynamic contentdelivery module 106, and from the timing information module 104 of thebroadcast transmitting system 100. The content structure tool 122attaches timing to content items so that a content item may be output ina user terminal 150 synchronized to the media stream of the broadcastprogram (for example, show the identification of this object on thescreen of the user terminal at 14:43:02 after the beginning of theprogram). The content structure tool 122 provides the layouts fordisplaying the content items, thereby defining their appearance on thescreen. Furthermore, the content structure tool 122 may define thedelivery of content items to the user terminal in accordance with thebroadcasting time line of the media stream.

The content packaging module 124 may receive information from thedynamic content delivery module 106, and from the timing informationmodule 104 of the broadcast transmitting system 100. Based on thecontent structure definition by the content structure tool 122, itcreates a content package for delivery to the user terminal 150,comprising content items carrying the individual content objects to bedisplayed, such as text strings, graphic file objects, animations, videoclips, etc.

The feedback module 126 is arranged to the content creation tool 120 forprocessing the interaction signals from the users. User responses thatare sent from the user terminal through the radio system to the server130 are fed to the feedback module 126 in the content creation tool 120.Based on the responses, the feedback module 126 formats a presentationthat may be fed to the broadcasting personnel through the dynamiccontent delivery tool 106 and user interface 108 of the broadcasttransmitting system 100, or as a new dynamic content item to be includedin the broadcast program.

Content Server

The content server 130 provides an access point and thus controls thecontent flow to and from the user terminal. It facilitates a timeddelivery of content items and/or packages to the user terminal, as wellas collecting and forwarding of interaction results from the radiosystem 110 to the broadcast system 100. The content server 130 may alsocontrol, and if necessary limit the number of users using the parallelchannel at the same time.

The content server comprises a content delivery engine 132, aninteraction engine 134, and a synchronization engine 136. The contentdelivery engine 132 receives a content package comprising one or morecontent items created by the content packager 124 of the contentcreation tool 120. The content package is fed from the content deliveryengine 132 to the interaction engine 134, which sends a signalcomprising said content package through the radio system 110 to the userterminal 150. Prior to sending the content package the content may beadjusted to the capabilities and the screen size of the receiving userterminal. This requires that the capability information of the userterminal has been signaled to the content server, for example, atconnection setup.

It is possible that one content package is associated with one programand delivered to the user terminal before the program starts. This isappropriate when dealing with pre-planned and recorded shows andprograms, where the content and content timeline are relativelyaccurately known in beforehand. The content associated with one programmay alternatively be delivered in a package that contains both the userterminal software module in a suitable format, such as a Java MIDlet andthe content package for a particular program. In this case, dynamiccontent may be delivered in addition to the preliminarily deliveredcontent package to deal with variations in content during the broadcast.Alternatively, the package may correspond to a segment of the program.This approach is suitable for, for example, FM radio, where the playlist is often more dynamically designed.

The synchronization engine 136 receives timing information from thetiming information module 104 of the broadcast transmitting system 100,and utilizes that to manage the transmission of content packages to theuser terminal. In addition, the synchronization engine 136 allows theuser terminal 110 to synchronize their clocks to broadcast system timereferences by running a synchronization algorithm. These control eventsmay be communicated through a synchronization engine 136 to aninteraction engine 152 of the user terminal 150 and the synchronizationengine 320 may thus adjust parallel channel timing accordingly.

The interaction engine 134 receives responses from the user terminal andforwards them to the content object provider according to the receivedobject identification. In addition, the interaction engine 134 maycollect the interaction responses from the user terminals and feed themto broadcast transmitting system 100 through the feedback module 126 ofthe content creation tool 120, dynamic content delivery module 106 anduser interface 108 of the broadcast transmitting system 100. Theinteraction engine 134 may also create and store statistics of thenumber of the users as well as the activity to participate ininteractions.

Mobile

FIG. 4 illustrates in more detail a user terminal 150, which comprisessubstantially conventional components, including wireless modems,processors, a memory, a user interface, a display, etc. In addition, theuser terminal may include a broadcast receiver 412, such as TV or radiotuner, video streaming engine, etc. The user terminal is usually amobile or a cellular telephone, but may also be, for example, a laptopcomputer, personal digital assistant or the like.

The user terminal 150 includes a specific software module (400 to 410)for providing the parallel channel functionality. This module can beimplemented using a native operating system such as, for example,Symbian, or using a programming environment, such as, for example, JavaMIDP.

A content package from, for example, the server interaction engine 134or as a broadcast is received to the user terminal 150 through theinteraction engine 400. The received content package is stored in alocal memory, a content storage 402. The content packages may be storedin a content storage 402 as a background process, so that contentinformation is available for a content processor 404 and for a renderingengine 406 when needed. Default information can also be stored incontent storage of the local memory 402 to be shown in case dynamiccontent for some reason is not available to the user terminal 150.

The rendering engine 406 provides visual, acoustic and/or tactualeffects to be output according to the content item to the user.

The reception of the parallel channel can be initiated in several ways.The user may activate a functionality, which enables the user terminalto receive and display the content items coming from the broadcastsystem either through the radio system, or as an RDS broadcast. If theuser terminal includes a broadcast receiver, instead of manualinitiation, the user terminal may also be programmed to automaticallyinitiate the reception of the content items over the parallel channeland display them on the terminal screen whenever the user selects aparticular broadcast channel.

In initiating the reception of the parallel channel in the user terminal150, the user terminal 150 transmits information about itself to thecontent server 130. The information may comprise data indicating thevariant of the user terminal, which enables adjusting the content itemsto contain, for example, graphic objects optimized to the capabilitiesof the particular user terminal.

The timer controller module 408 may run a synchronization algorithm withthe content server 130 to synchronize an internal clock of the userterminal to the internal clock of the server. A simple synchronizationalgorithm can be used, based on calculating round trip delays ofrequests sent to content server 130 by the user terminal 110, and oncalculating the difference between the user terminal clock and theserver clock. Once the user terminal 150 has performed synchronizationand the starting time of a program is known, media stream timelinereferences may be translated to references in the internal clock of theuser terminal 150.

The timer controller module 408 is thus aware of whether the program hasalready started and what is the current time line position. If theprogram is running, the timer controller 408 may thus automatically finda correct content item in the parallel channel to be displayed in theuser interface 410.

Once the use of parallel channel is activated and the user terminal hasreceived a content item to be shown at a particular time, the contentprocessor 404 may start executing. The processor 404 reads the contentstructure definition in the content storage 402 to determine the currentcontent item to be displayed and communicates the content item and arelated layout to the rendering engine 406 for display in the userinterface 410. Based on the content structure definition, the contentprocessor 404 informs the timer controller module 408 to create timerevents, for example displaying of a next content item according tocontent structure. In such a case the processor 404 reads the structuredefinition in the storage 402, determines the content item to bedisplayed, and a related layout, and sends them to a user interface 410to be displayed. A combination of the content item and a layout ishereinafter called a slide.

When the displayed slide provides a possibility for the user tointeract, for example, by means of selecting an on-screen button,entering text to a text entry slot, or a defined key combination, or thelike, a signal having information on the action is communicated from theuser interface 410 to the content processor 404. The content processor404 analyses the action and based on the analysis triggers a relatedtransaction. The signal of the user action is communicated from thecontent processor 404 to the interaction engine 400 of the userterminal, which transmits the signal through the radio system 110 to thedatabase 170 and possibly also to the interaction engine 134 of theserver 130. In case the interactive action is activated using an objectidentification, the user activity triggers communication from the userterminal 150 to the server 130 automatically and the user does not needto know a long list of service numbers, service codes or identificationstrings.

In practice there has appeared a problem with the parallel usage ofalternative types of content. As the processor 404 reads the structuredefinition in the content structure memory 402, and sends the currentcontent items and layouts to a user interface 410 to be displayed itfollows an order pre-defined with the content creation tool. If thedisplay, due to this, is suddenly changed, while the user is still inthe middle of an interactive procedure, for example activating apurchase request, paying a purchase, or viewing some information, thiscreates irritation, and possible uncertainty of the payment operation.This has been considered to severely degrade the user experience of theproposed solution This is overcome in the embodied solution as shown inFIG. 4. The user terminal 150 of the media system 10 is further equippedwith a mode selection module 414, preferably a software module, thatallows the user terminal 150 to operate in a first mode and in a secondmode. In the first mode the user terminal displays content items andlayouts from the content storage 402 according to a defined order, basedon the timing of the broadcast transmitting system 100. In the secondmode each slide is displayed in response to a user action, for example,through the user interface 410 of the user terminal. Furthermore, thecontent processor 404 is configured not allow a transition from thefirst mode to the second mode without an appropriate authorization. Inthe first embodiment of the solution the defined order is thepre-defined timing of the slides, and authorization for the modetransition is given by the user. An authorization may be given byentering, for example, through the user interface a user action thatends the interactive procedure, and thus allows displaying the contentaccording to the pre-defined synchronization. Such an user action maybe, for example, pushing a on-screen button <Finished>. Alternatively,an authorization may be executed by remaining passive for a while sothat the duration of inactivity exceeds a pre-defined time limit.Authorization may also be enabled by a defined authorization signalgenerated by the content server 130.

The second mode primarily relates to a user interaction, morespecifically the user terminal interacting with the content server 130or servers accessible to it and thereby retrieving information orcontent objects from external service providers (browsing). Preferablythis is realized with the help of a displayed content objectidentification, as disclosed earlier. However, it should be noted thatone content package may comprise a structure that, in addition to thepre-defined, synchronized structure, provides alternative sequences ofcontent items for the user to choose from. Accordingly, even thoughthere is no interaction for data retrieval with the server, the terminalmay, in such a case, operate in the second mode.

FIG. 5 illustrates the embodied method for displaying informationreceived in the parallel channel. The procedure begins in the situationwhere a first slide is retrieved from the content storage 402 anddisplayed on the screen of the user terminal, i.e. the user terminaloperates in the first mode. The display of the content item has beendefined to take place for the duration of T1, unless interrupted by aninteractive functionality initiated by the user. FIG. 6 illustrates therelated screen 60 of the user terminal displaying the first contentitem. The first slide provides a view in a form of a repetitive template62 that acts as a frame that is complemented with the changing data ofthe content item 64. The illustrated content item 64 also comprises anobject identifier, which leads to the slide comprising an on-screenbutton 66. In the illustrated embodiment the on-screen button provides apossibility to purchase a ringing tone of the song currently broadcastin the radio. The first slide may also provide an indicator 68 showingthe mode the terminal is operating in. When the user terminal begins todisplay the slide (step 505), a synchronization timer is started. Incase the user is not interested in the ringing tone (step 510) and thusdoes not activate the on-screen button, the procedure will continue bychecking that the timer t1 count has not exceeded the pre-defined timelimit T1 (step 515). As long as the threshold T1 has not been exceeded,the slide will be displayed in the screen (step 505). When the thresholdT1 is exceeded (step 515), a new slide will be retrieved from thecontent storage (step 520). The timer is reset (step 525), and theprocedure will continue from step 505.

However, in case the user activates the on-screen button (step 510), theuser terminal will change into the second mode (step 530). It may bepossible that additional user action, for example in the form ofconfirming the transaction is necessary (step 535). If the confirmationis not received, the procedure will continue from step 555 by checkingwhether the transition back to the first mode is authorized by the user.If the confirmation is received, the specific module of in the userterminal 150 sends a transaction signal (step 540) to the database 170of the object provider. In the database 170 of the object provider theuser terminal is identified by the received transaction signal. Thedatabase sends in return to the request a signal with the ordered objectusing a suitable delivery channel of the radio system. When the userterminal 110 receives (step 545) the signal with the object it notifiesthe user. The object can be saved in the memory of the user terminal andshown to the user. While the transaction is ongoing the timer is notchecked and even if the threshold T1 of the first slide would beexceeded, the interactive procedure will not be interrupted. After thetransition is completed, the inactivity timer of the user is reset (step550) and it is checked whether the transition back to the first mode isauthorized by the user (step 555). If the authorization is explicitlyreceived by a user action the procedure will immediately continue fromstep 570 by determining, according to the timing of the slides, whichslide should be displayed, and then move to step 520 of retrieving theslide from the content storage for display. If the authorization is notreceived, it is checked (step 560) whether the inactivity timer t2 hasexceeded a pre-defined threshold T2. If not, the procedure will continuefrom step 535 by waiting for new information from the user. If yes, theprocedure will continue from step 570 by determining, according to thetiming of the slides, which slide should be displayed, and then continuefrom step 520.

The procedure of FIG. 5 shoes the basic elements of the embdied method,and may be varied in may ways. For example, as shown above, a contentpackage may comprise a group of content items associated with timers t1,and arranged into a hierarchic structure. Separate timers may beassociated to these separate hierarchic structures and to the overallhierarchic block of the whole content package.

In FIGS. 7A to 7D the division between the first mode and of the secondmode is discussed in more detail. FIG. 7A shows a sequence of slides,delivered to the user terminal in one content package. The content itemscomprise the information displayed in slides S10 to S14, and the contentstructure information defines the timing Ta to Tc between the successiveslides. As depicted in FIG. 7A, in the first mode the slides aredisplayed in a sequence timed according to the pre-definedsynchronization Ta to Tc.

FIG. 7B shows a corresponding group of slides S20 to S27 delivered tothe user terminal in one content package. The content structure providesa diversion from S21 to either S22 or S26 by choice of the user. In casethe user does not activate the on-screen button of S21, the userterminal will operate in the first mode and the sequence of slides S20to S25 will be displayed in the pre-defined order according to thepre-defined timing Tm to Tq. However, in case the user activates theon-screen button of S21, the user terminal will enter to the secondmode, where he or she may navigate through the slides S26 to S27 byactivating the on-screen buttons comprised in the slides. The on-screenbutton in slide S27 comprises an object identification to terminate thebrowsing of the slides, and the terminal will re-enter the first mode bythe user activating the button. As discussed earlier, the terminal mayalso enter the first mode if the user remains inactive longer than apre-defined time period.

FIG. 7C shows a group of slides S30 to S37 that differs from slides S20to S27 in FIG. 7B by the timing arranged between slides S36 and S37.This means that by activating the on-screen button of S31 the user mayactuate a change to the display order of the slides, but actually sincethe display of slides S36 and S37 follows a pre-defined synchronization,the terminal stays in the first mode throughout the studied time period.

In the options presented in FIGS. 7A to 7C the transition between thefirst mode and the second mode has been activated and authorized by theuser by actuating an object identification arranged into the screen ofthe user terminal. In another modification of the embodied solution, asshown in FIG. 7D, in creating the content, the designer of the slidesdefines whether the slide leads to transition between the first mode andthe second mode or not. The user terminal in the first mode displaysslide S40 and after an interval Ts displays slide S41. However, theslide S41 comprises a question addressed to the user and in order toensure that the user will not unintentionally miss the question, slideS41 has been defined to transition the user terminal into the secondmode directly when S41 is displayed. In the second mode the slide S41remains displayed on the screen unless the user explicitly authorizesthe transition back to the first mode by pushing a <clear> buttonarranged on the screen, which leads the process to a slide currentlytimed for display. In FIG. 7D advancing to the next slide S42 is shown,but naturally the identity of the next slide to be displayed depends onthe time the user takes to remain in the second mode. After slide S42the slides S42 to S44 are displayed according to the pre-definedsynchronization.

The other possibility to continue from slide S41 is to answer to thequestion by activating the on-screen button of S41, which leads theprocedure to slide S45. In FIG. 7D slide S45 is also an interactiveslide requesting a confirmation to the answer provided in slide S41, andis thus associated with the second mode. Confirming the given answer byactivating the on-screen button in the screen leads to displaying theslide S46 that comprises a message thanking for the answer. Slide S46,on the other hand, is also defined to transition the user terminal fromthe second mode to the first mode and thereby terminate the interactivefunctionality.

In the first embodiment the order defined by the media system was thepre-defined timing of the slides. In some systems the content may alsobe pushed spontaneously from the server to the terminal, which inconventional operation will override any other content viewing in theterminal. In the invented solution such overriding may happen only ifthe terminal is in the first mode, and therefore open for the newdisplay order as pushed by the system. If the user terminal is in thesecond mode, the display status will not change unless appropriatelyauthorized. The authorization may be given as described earlier, forexample, by the user action, user inactivity, or an incoming signal.

In case of active push services, the user terminal may be arranged togive an indication of the new content to the user, for example in formof a signal tone, flashing of the keyboard, or sign may appear in aparticular information section of the screen. In noticing this, the usermay decide whether to interrupt the ongoing browsing activity to checkfor the new incoming information, or finalize the activity beforeentering the new display order provided by the content server.

In the first embodiment the first and of the second mode have beenimplemented by the user terminal. It is also possible that the operationmodes are arranged into the content server 130. In such embodiment, themode selection module 414 of the user terminal 150 is configured togenerate and transmit a signal to the content server 130 whenever a modetransition occurs in the user terminal 150. In response to the receivedindication the content server 130 will either spontaneously resumepushing new content to the user terminal (second mode->first mode), orrefrain from pushing new content to the user terminal (firstmode->second mode).

The flow chart of FIG. 8 illustrates the step of the embodied method ofpresenting content associated with broadcast program in a user terminalof a telecommunication system. In step 805 a media stream is broadcastby a broadcast transmitting system. In step 810 a group of one or morecontent items comprising one or more visual, acoustic or tactile contentobjects of presentation, associated with the media stream, aregenerated. Example of such content object is a text string, a picture, avideo clip, an audio clip, a game, a logo, a screen saver, a ringingtone, or the like, a series of these or any combination thereof. In step815 timing info is attached to the content items for timing theirpresentation, and he content items are delivered (step 820) using thetelecommunication system to a user terminal of the telecommunicationsystem. In a user terminal, where such content is available, a contentitem with the attached timing relating to the current time is retrieved(step 830) from the content storage, and presented (step 835) in theuser terminal. For a person skilled in the art, there are various waysto indicate the timing of a content item, which all fall in the scope ofthe invention. The timing may be given explicitly as an absolute time(for example, 31.1.2002 at 08:08:35 GMT), as a relative time from adefined starting point (for example, 3 seconds after the signal foradvertisement break), a parameterized definition (for example,immediately as received), or the like.

At presenting the content it is checked whether the terminal currentlyoperates in the first mode or in the second mode (step 840). If theterminal operates in the first mode, it is checked (step 845) whetherthe timing indicates that a new presentation element is necessary (step850) or not. A presentation element refers to a group of effects that atone time may be output from the terminal without causing disturbinginterference. A presentation element typically corresponds to a contentitem, and in principle an implementation specific definition. Such apresentation element may comprise, for example, a slide of a display,comprising a content item and a template. Such a presentation elementmay also comprise a short clip of a song played with the loudspeaker ofthe terminal, or a combination of simultaneous rhythmic blinking of thekeyboard light and vibration of the terminal. For a person skilled inthe art there are various possibilities for defining presentation items,and any such variations fall in the scope of the present invention. Incase it is considered that some functionality, for example incomingcall, does not cause disturbing interference, it is not considered partof presentation element, and appears neutral to the operation modesdescribed herein.

If a new presentation element is necessary, new content will beretrieved, basically from the content storage (back to step 830). If no,the presentation of the current slide will continue. If the terminaloperates in the second mode, it is checked (step 855) whether the userhas entered a user activity. If yes, content will be retrieved,basically from the content storage or through a session with an accesspoint (back to step 830). If no, the presentation of the current slidewill continue.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as thetechnology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in variousways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examplesdescribed above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

1. A method of presenting content associated with broadcast program in auser terminal of a telecommunication system, the method comprising:broadcasting a media stream by a broadcast system; generating a group ofcontent items associated with the media stream; attaching to the contentitems timing information to indicate the timing for presenting a contentitem; delivering the group of content items with the timing informationto the user terminal; presenting the content items in the user terminalin a first mode wherein a presentation element corresponding to acontent item is changed to another presentation element according to thetiming information of the content item, or in a second mode wherein apresentation element is changed to another presentation element inresponse to a user action; and allowing transition from the second modeto the first mode only by authorization according to a pre-definedprocedure.
 2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:providing a presentation element as a slide in the terminal display; andincluding in the presentation element a display element for activating auser action that transits the user terminal from the first mode to thesecond mode.
 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the displayelement is an on-screen button in the terminal display.
 4. A methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: attaching to the content itemmode information to indicate whether presenting of the content itemrelates to a transition to the first mode of the user terminal or to thesecond mode of the user terminal; and changing the mode of the userterminal according to the mode information of the content item currentlypresented by the user terminal.
 5. A method according to claim 1,further comprising: generating the group of content items to correspondwith one program or a segment of one program of the media stream;storing the group of content items in the user terminal; and retrieving,when the user terminal is in the first mode, a content item forpresentation according to the timing information.
 6. A method accordingto claim 1, further comprising: generating a content item whilebroadcasting the associated program in the media stream; and indicatingin the timing information that the content item is to be presentedimmediately at reception.
 7. A method according to claim 1, furthercomprising authorizing the transition from the second mode to the firstmode by a user action in the user terminal.
 8. A method according toclaim 1, further comprising: measuring the duration of a user inactivitywhile the user terminal is in the first mode; and authorizing thetransition from the second mode to the first mode by the duration of theuser inactivity exceeding a pre-defined limit.
 9. A method according toclaim 1, further comprising authorizing the transition from the secondmode to the first mode in response to an authorizing signal receivedfrom a telecommunication system.
 10. A media system comprising abroadcast system, a telecommunication system, a content processingsystem, and a user terminal, wherein the broadcast system is configuredto broadcast a media stream; the content processing system is configuredto generate a group of content items associated with the media stream;the content processing system is configured to attach to the contentitems timing information to indicate the timing for presenting a contentitem; the user terminal is configured to present the content items inthe user terminal in a first mode, wherein a presentation elementcorresponding to a content item is changed to another presentationelement according to the timing information of the content item, or in asecond mode wherein a presentation element is changed to anotherpresentation element in response to a user action; and the user terminalis configured to transit from the second mode to the first mode only byauthorization according to a pre-defined procedure.
 11. A systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the user terminal is configured toprovide a presentation element as a slide in the terminal display; andto include in the presentation element a display element for activatinga user action that transits the user terminal from the first mode to thesecond mode.
 12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the displayelement is an on-screen button in the user interface of the userterminal.
 13. A system according to claim 10, wherein the contentprocessing system is configured to attach to the content item modeinformation to indicate whether presenting the content item to atransition to the first mode of the user terminal or to the second modeof the user terminal; and the user terminal is configured to change itsmode according to the mode information of the displayed content item.14. A system according to claim 10, wherein the content processingsystem is configured to generate the group of content items tocorrespond with one program or a segment of one program of the mediastream; the user terminal is configured to store the group of contentitems in the user terminal; and the user terminal is configured toretrieve, when the user terminal is in the first mode, a content itemfor presenting according to the timing information.
 15. A systemaccording to claim 10, wherein the content processing system isconfigured to generate a content item while broadcasting the associatedprogram in the media stream; and the content processing system isconfigured to indicate in the timing information that the content itemis to be presented immediately at reception.
 16. A system according toclaim 10, wherein the user terminal is configured to enter the firstmode from the second mode in response to authorization by a user actionin the user terminal.
 17. A system according to claim 10, wherein theuser terminal is configured to measure the duration of a user inactivitywhile the user terminal is in the first mode; and the user terminal isconfigured to enter the first mode from the second mode in response toauthorization by the duration of the user inactivity exceeding apre-defined limit.
 18. A system according to claim 10, wherein the userterminal is configured to enter the first mode from the second mode inresponse to an authorizing signal received from a telecommunicationsystem.
 19. A user terminal in a telecommunication system of a mediasystem, said media system comprising a broadcast system for broadcastinga media stream, wherein the user terminal comprises means for receivinga group of content items associated with the media stream with timinginformation to indicate the timing for presenting a content item; meansfor presenting the content items in the user terminal in a first modewherein a presentation element corresponding to a content item ischanged to another presentation element according to the timinginformation of the content item, or in a second mode wherein apresentation element is changed to another presentation element inresponse to a user action; and means for allowing transition from thesecond mode to the first mode only by authorization according to apre-defined procedure.
 20. A user terminal according to claim 19,wherein the user terminal is configured to provide a presentationelement as a slide in the terminal display; and to include in thepresentation element a display element for activating a user action thattransits the user terminal from the first mode to the second mode.
 21. Auser terminal according to claim 20, wherein the display element is aon-screen button in the user interface of the user terminal.
 22. A userterminal according to claim 19, wherein the user terminal user terminalis configured to receive from the content processing means modeinformation in the content item to indicate whether displaying of thecontent item relates to a transition to the first mode of the userterminal or to the second mode of the user terminal; and the userterminal is configured to change its mode according to the modeinformation of the displayed content item.
 23. A user terminal accordingto claim 19, wherein the user terminal is configured to enter the firstmode from the second mode in response to authorization by a user actionin the user terminal.
 24. A user terminal according to claim 19 whereinthe user terminal is configured to measure the duration of a userinactivity while the user terminal is in the first mode; and the userterminal is configured to enter the first mode from the second mode inresponse to authorization by the duration of the user inactivityexceeding a pre-defined limit.
 25. A user terminal according to claim 19wherein the user terminal is configured to enter the first mode from thesecond mode in response to an authorizing signal received from atelecommunication system.
 26. A user terminal according to claim 19wherein the user terminal is configured to display an indicator forindicating the current operating mode of the terminal.
 27. A server in amedia system comprising a broadcast system, a telecommunication system,a content creation tools, and a user terminal, wherein the server isconfigured to receive from the content creation tool a group of contentitems associated with the media stream with timing information toindicate the timing for presenting a content item; the server isconfigured to receive from the user terminal a signal for indicatingwhether the user terminal is in a first mode wherein a presentationelement corresponding to a content item is changed to anotherpresentation element according to the timing information of the contentitem, or in a second mode wherein a presentation element is changed toanother presentation element in response to a user action; the server isconfigured to transmit content items to the user terminal when the userterminal is in a first mode; and the server is configured not totransmit content items when the user terminal is in a second mode.
 28. Aserver according to claim 27, wherein the server is configured to sendto the user terminal an authorizing signal for authorizing transition tothe first mode from the second mode.